Drilled

Exploring the opposition to wind energy on the east coast, the deceptive tactics used by groups, the alliances between conservationists and fishing industry against offshore wind, ties between conservative organizations and shared rhetoric, challenges faced by renewable energy projects, and the resistance from oil majors in transitioning to renewables.

Ugochi Anyaka Oluigbo, a committed reporter covering environmental activism in the Niger Delta, joins Fine Boy Kuku, a former print journalist and MOSOP member living in exile. They discuss Shell's recent shift to offshore drilling while leaving a legacy of pollution and unrest in Nigeria. The duo highlights the Ogoni people's ongoing fight for justice, the brutal suppression of protests, and the pressing need for accountability from foreign oil giants. Personal stories reveal the deep scars of environmental and social injustice that continue to fuel resistance.

Exploring the history and impact of the Yasuni National Park in Ecuador, the biodiversity and pharmaceutical potential, the failed initiatives and environmental impacts of the oil industry, the controversial referendum on drilling, and the consequences post-referendum on residents and the economy.

Check out the limited-run series Hazard NYC from The City, all about how climate change intersects with Superfund sites in New York City. Start with episode one here: https://www.thecity.nyc/2024/02/14/newtown-creek-superfund-pollution-hazardnyc-faqnyc-podcast/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dana R. Fisher, author and protest research expert, discusses the tactics and future of climate protest. Topics include the departure from traditional social science, radicalization of protests, importance of media attention, and the role of the radical flank in the climate movement.

The U.S. government's definition of what constitutes an "ecoterrorist" has long driven backlash against environmental activists and in recent years that definition has only broadened. Investigative reporter and Drilled senior editor Alleen Brown dug into this recently and found that the Department of Homeland Security had been warning officials in Atlanta about the threat posed by "Defend the Atlanta Forest" for months before police raided the forest, ultimately killing one protestor, and charging dozens more with domestic terrorism and racketeering. It was such an overreaction that even mainstream media covered it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In June 2022, Michel Forst became the first UN Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders. In that role he has spent the past year visiting various countries and speaking out about the increasingly onerous laws and aggressive tactics being used against climate protestors. Today he released a statement on the UK, saying he is "extremely worried" about "the increasingly severe crackdowns on environmental defenders in the United Kingdom, including in relation to the exercise of the right to peaceful protest."In this episode, our France reporter Anna Pujol-Mazzini talks to Forst about his new position, what it means, and what power he has to do something about the creeping crackdown on climate protest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

About a decade after UK courts made history with the first "climate necessity" ruling in history, the UK government has passed new laws that not only restrict what protesters can do, but also how protesters are allowed to defend themselves in court. Some judges don't apply the new laws so strictly, but others have held people in contempt for just trying to explain themselves.In some courtrooms, the climate necessity defense has been effectively outlawed. How did that happen? And how did it happen so quickly? That's our story today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Protests at the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation gained attention, but at the Bayou Bridge, pipeline security suppressed free speech. The episode explores wrongful arrests, limited rights to protest, and criminalization of activists. It also discusses encounters with law enforcement, harrowing incidents, legal challenges, grassroots resistance, and the power of the next generation.

The podcast discusses the protests and legal battles against the Dakota Access Pipeline at the Standing Rock Sioux Indian reservation. It addresses the environmental impact, anti-protest tactics, and the ongoing resistance. The chapter also highlights the personal impact of private security and government decisions, emphasizing the power of voices and the importance of climate news.